The latest tattoo trend? Crazy realistic 3-D ink

2014-02-24T19:15:00.000Z

Alesandra Dubin

TODAY

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Sure, tattoos are so commonplace these days that the sight of a butterfly, anchor or line of text on just about anyone is hardly reason to raise an eyebrow. But there’s a new trend in tattooing that’s definitely getting our attention: 3-D ink.

Just check out the hashtag #3dtattoo on Instagram to see the evidence. It shows thousands of images of elaborate ink representing the new style, which renders objects like insects, animals and landscapes as eye-tricking trompe l’oeil. See some of the wild images for yourself!

Butterfly tattoos have long been popular — but the addition of shading and shadowing makes this one appear close to fluttering right off the shoulder blade.